e frontier has announced Shade 8.5, with support for Intel-based Macs. Coming in Spring 2006, Shade 8.5 will be a free upgrade for registered Shade users. Shade is e frontier’s 3D modeling and rendering software.
Running on Intel-based iMacs yields a performance improvement of almost 200 percent, according to e frontier.
Shade 8 features tools for 3D designers, illustrators and architects. Architects can use the software for initial massing and design studies, or creating walkthroughs. Product designers can use Shade to visualize products and build prototypes. It’s also able to integrate with e frontier’s popular Poser program for character modeling and more.
Shade 8.5 will sport other enhancements beside Intel support. Users will be able to import and export 3D sound files, and QuickTime VR export has been added. The Path Constraints plug-in allows easy linked motion, and the FogPlus plug-in provides advanced fog effects.
Other major improvements in version 8.5 include support for a bounding box display in PoserFusion and support of background and sound catalog in ShadeExplorer. The user interface has also been improved.
Shade is available in standard and professional versions, for $199.99 and $899.99 respectively. Upgrades from versions prior to 8 start at $99.99.